Maddox Long's Next Chapter
Maddox Long, a right‑handed pitcher who dominated the independent Frontier League, has officially signed a professional contract with the Detroit Tigers. The agreement comes after the Tigers purchased his rights from the Washington Wild Things, the league’s champion team he helped lead to a championship in 2023.
Long’s impressive résumé includes a 4‑1 record and a 1.81 earned run average over 44.2 innings with the Wild Things, a 0.780 WHIP that topped the league, and a second‑place finish in ERA among qualified pitchers. His performance earned him consensus First‑Team All‑American honors and the Central Region Pitcher of the Year award.
College Career and Legacy
The Arkansas native capped his collegiate career at Harding University with a historic senior season in 2025, posting an 11‑3 record and a 2.16 ERA across 16 appearances. That year he also guided the Bisons to a league‑championship run in the Northwoods League and helped the program produce notable alumni such as Preacher Roe, a former MLB All‑Star.
Long will begin his affiliated career with the Rookie‑level Florida Complex League Tigers, reporting to the club’s facility in Lakeland, Florida. There he will join a development pipeline that has already launched six other Harding alumni into professional baseball, underscoring the university’s growing impact on the sport.
A Historic Signing for Harding Alumni
The signing represents more than a personal milestone for Long; it reflects a broader trend of Harding University producing talent that reaches the highest levels of the game. As the seventh Bison to sign with an MLB‑affiliated organization, Long joins a distinguished list that includes former star pitcher Preacher Roe, further cementing the school’s reputation as a breeding ground for future baseball leaders.